10 things Kate should do while on tour in Germany and Poland

By Julia Seidl

June 22, 2017

The
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are making an official visit to Germany and Poland from July 17 to July 21. The summer tour marks Kate’s first
official trip the European countries, with no word yet on if Prince George and Princess
Charlotte will be joining their parents. The trip also takes place thirty years
after
Prince Charles and Princess Diana enjoyed a two-week tour of Germany in 1987.

Even though
Kate’s schedule won’t leave much time for sight seeing,
Hello! Canada has
drafted a dream list of what the Duchess should do, see, eat and enjoy while exploring Germany and Poland, all fit for a royal.

HEIDELBERG

The
thermal baths of Germany are world-renowned which is why the royal should
decompress in Baden Baden, a spa town just south of Heidelberg.
Friedrichsbad, a 140-year old spa,
boasts 17 bathing stations and is the relaxation destination of choice for
celebrities and royalty.

The 140-year old spa is the perfect place to unwind.

A
taste of Germany’s finest chocolate will satisfy Duchess Kate's royal sweet
tooth.
Studentenkuss is the city’s
best-known chocolatier (Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton are fans) or stop at
the 120-year old artisanal bakery
Gundel
for local delicacies including the Heidelberger Kurfürstenkugel, a handmade ball of nougat cream, marzipan
and gooey chocolate.

BERLIN

If George and Charlotte are in tow, a visit to one of Berlin’s
kindercafes is a must. The Duke and
Duchess can refuel with a latte while the young royals keep busy in the
dedicated play areas packed with toys, games, even mini jungle gyms.

The capital city is also the country’s fashion hub.
Stylish German supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum flock to
Lala
Berlin
, an eye-catching brand by German-Iranian designer Leyla Piedayesh.

Kate can get her shop on in Hackesche Höfe.

A trip to
Berlin wouldn’t be complete without a short history lesson. What remains of the
Berlin Wall is best seen at the
East
Side Gallery
. Or the royal can get lost in Berlin’s Hackesche Höfe,
a vibrant maze of eight interconnecting courtyards dating back to the 18
th
century. Today the site is bustling with vibrant cafes, galleries and
boutiques.

HAMBURG

When Princess
Diana visited Hamburg in 1987, she made a stop at the luxury department store,
Alsterhaus. Kate can follow in her late
mother-in-law’s footsteps with a browse around the 105 year-old shopping institution.
Souvenir plush toys by iconic German brand Steiff for George and Charlotte are
a must buy.

Two lakes,
the
Außenalster and Binnenalster, can
be found in central Hamburg which means the sporty royal can show off her
athletic prowess with stand-up paddle boarding (a skill her sister
Pippa Middleton reportedly picked up on her honeymoon) or challenge William to another sailing
race.

The Elbphilharmonie was designed by the same architects as London's Tate Modern.

And finally,
as the birthplace of classical composers Mendelssohn and Brahms, Hamburg’s new
architectural wonder the
Elbphilharmonie
is the best place to end the trip. The new glass-paneled concert hall may feel
like home to the royal art fan – it was designed by the same architects as
London’s Tate Modern.

WARSAW

While in the capital of Poland, Kate may want to drop by
The Fryderyk Chopin Museum to explore the life and works of the iconic composer. After a restoration project in 2010, the museum is now one of the country's most modern, boasting floors of multimedia exhibitions.

Many royals have visited The Fryderyk Chopin Museum over the years.

Fun fact: Chopin performed for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848. Reflecting on the performance, he reportedly wrote in a letter, "The Queen talked with me twice. Prince Albert, an enthusiastic amateur musician and composer, came up to the piano. Everyone told me that both these things are rare."

GDANSK

One of Poland's most beautiful cities, the mother of two could get lost its cobbled streets overflowing with cafes, bespoke jewelry shops and breathtaking architecture. Along the way, she may want to stop at Neptune’s Fountain, built between 1606 and 1613, the bronze statue is considered to be the oldest secular monument in Poland.

Neptune's Fountain is a must-see attraction in Gdansk.

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